Neha Tripathi shoots 70 to take an early lead at Jaypee Greens

Neha Tripathi shoots 70 in the first round of the 15th leg of the Hero Women's Professional Golf Tour

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Greater Noida, 2nd September: Kolkata’s Neha Tripathi returned with a score of 2 under 70 to soar to pole position on day one of the 15th leg of the Hero Women’s Professional Golf Tour 2015 here on Tuesday. Trailing her by one stroke is veteran Smriti Mehra. The INR 6,00,000 event is being played at the Jaypee Greens and will culminate on 4th September.

Neha Tripathi started the quest for her first title of the season in style, playing a bogey-free front nine with a lone birdie on the 8th hole. She kept the momentum going on her return journey, and fired two more birdies on the 11th and 14thholes. Her lone blemish came on the 17th hole.

Kolkata’s Smriti Mehra, who returned to the Tour after missing a few events due to overseas commitments, carded 1 under 71 to take the second spot. She had an indifferent start and dropped two shots on the 5th and 9th holes. However, she grew in confidence as the day progressed and fired four birdies on the 11th, 13th, 15th and 18th holes, while dropping a shot on the 12th hole. Her tally of four birdies was the maximum by any player on the day.

Panchkula’s Amandeep Drall returned with a level par score to finish third after first round. She started well with a birdie on the 1st hole, but could not sustain the momentum and dropped two consecutive shots on the 2nd and 3rd holes. However, she recovered immediately, carding two birdies on the 4th and 6th holes. She played with much more composure in her back-nine and could have finished higher, but for a bogey on the 18th hole.

Hero Order of Merit leader Vani Kapoor, Kapurthala’s Gursimar Badwal, Bangalore’s Sharmila Nicollet and amateurs Diksha Dagar and Tvesa Malik returned with identical scores of 2 over 74 to end tied fourth. Vani had an off day and her card consisted of four bogies on the 6th, 8th, 10th and 18th holes, along with two birdies on the 11th and 17th holes. Gursimar dropped three shots on the 2nd, 4th and 11th holes, with a lone birdie on the 5th . Hero Motocorp sponsored Sharmila Nicollet fired a lone birdie on the 15th hole, while dropping a shot on the 5th along with a double on the 18th. Diksha carded three birdies on the 1st, 11th and 18th holes, while dropping shots on the 3rd, 7th and 10th holes. She also had a double on the 17th. Tvesa’s round consisted of three birdies on the 4th, 7th and 14th holes, but five bogies on the 8th, 12th, 13th 17th and 18th holes undid her good work.

Amateur Anisha Padukone is in the ninth position with a score of 3 over 75, followed by the Delhi duo of Mehar Atwal and Ankita Tiwana in tied 10th position with identical scores of 4 over 76.

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